SPCR

Thank you mr. Lee!

Thanks for the review. Longtime reader here unlurking for this comment.

I was considering this case for an eventual Skylake build, so I noticed a couple things about the review sample here. To me it looks like the non-reusable expansion slot covers have been changed on (currently?) shipping units. Checking pictures of this case out in the wild and on Newegg's product page, for example, they seem to be using vented, reusable covers now (with a thumbscrew mechanism). Also, seemingly on the black version but not the white version, the back fan grille seems less restrictive:


For what it's worth, review samples sent to other sites also seemed to get the non-reusable slot covers.

I wonder if that might make a couple degrees difference.

Nice review. Thanks for the hard work!

foam scraps to the rescue!

I too would love to see a mATX version of this and/or the H440. It surprises me that NZXT haven't done this yet.

Great review!

Seems like they are doing a lot of things right.

Where the other expansion slot covers removed for testing?

This budget case scraping a Recommendation based on its price makes me long for an "It's Okay" badge. Nice review regardless, especially the tips on correcting the issues with the case with DIY.

Nice review, but I would totally avoid this case just because of its HDD case (avoidable if you're only planning on using SSDs).

There may be a considerable gap behind the front bezel, but the intake ports are only at the top and bottom of the bezel itself. They should be as close and in the direct path of the fans as possible, so I think they sacrificed airflow for aesthetics.

axur-delmeria wrote:There may be a considerable gap behind the front bezel, but the intake ports are only at the top and bottom of the bezel itself. They should be as close and in the direct path of the fans as possible, so I think they sacrificed airflow for aesthetics.

It's not much of a sacrifice. The actual size of the top & bottom openings is about 7x1" -- total intake vent is a bit under 14 sq. inches (88cm sq), which is a little under the area of a 12cm fan. . And aside from the filters in front of the fans, there are no other obstructions, which means the resistance to airflow is very low. Given the typical multiple layers of airflow obstruction on intakes (dust filter, outer grill, etc) with so many cases, this is at least as good as average, if not better. IMO, the exhaust venting is a bit worse. A fan blowing out the top would probably have helped a bit.

I hope one day they take it a step further and produce a microATX variant

Indeed.

It's a shame there's no damping on the 3.5 drive bays, as I like the clean look of this case. I did notice the black paint was scratched up pretty badly on the in store example I looked at, and other reviews mentioned the same. Here's hoping NZXT address that for future revisions.

MikeC wrote:A fan blowing out the top would probably have helped a bit.

What about "reversing" the airflow path, from back to front?

I hate to bring this back from the dead, but I'm considering this case and have the Mugen Max. How much foam was used to quiet the fan vibration, and is it blatantly obvious and detracting from the looks of the install?